Apparatus for manufacturing compressed sanitary pads



\ 18, 1939- L. F. PARKER 2,166,665

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING COMPRESSED SANIT ARY PADS Filed July 16, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 QIH.

ATTORNEY.

1939- PARKER I 5 2,166,665

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING COMPRESSED SANITARY PADS Filed July 16, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

July 18, 1939. 1.. F. PARKER APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING COMPRESSED SANITARY PADS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 16, 1938 INVENTOR. 4

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 18, 1939 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR. MANUFACTURING coM- PRESSED SANITARY PADS Laurie F. Parker, Noroton, Conn.

Application July 16, 1938, Serial No. 219,531

9 Claims. (Cl. 18-16) The present invention relates to means for compressing sanitary napkins of a usual type incorporating a cotton fibre filling, a gauze wrapper and loose ends for fastening purposes, generally with a tie-belt, into a form-retaining. Preferably cylindrical, block, and in such. manner that the ends of the napkin, which may be looped ends, are disposed at the ends of the block and may be pulled away from each other in restoring the napkin to its original form. Thus, by means of the invention, a napkin having a body portion 9 long and 3 wide, with a thickness of 1", the body portion having looped endsof gauze, eachiapproximately 6" long and of the width of the gauze enveloping the fiuify cotton body portion, may be compressed'into a cylindrical block in diameter and 2" long, with the remarkable characteristic that by pulling upon the looped ends, present in highly compressed-form at the ends of the block, the napkin may be partially restored to original position and completely restored by grasping the body at opposite ends and moving the ends rapidly in opposite directions by a shaking procedure, whilst imparting tension upon the body lengthwise.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view showing in longitudinal section a compression tube, a hook-pull within the tube, a napkin engaged by the hookpull, a compression piston and certain associated .parts.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the position of the parts immediately following operation of the hook-pull.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the position of the parts following operation of the compression 'piston.

Figure 4 is a detailed view, showing the position of the compression piston after a final ejecting movement of the compressed block.

Figure 5 is a'perspective view, schematically showing the napkin structure in its original form.

Figure 5A is a perspective view, schematically a showing the napkin structure in its compressed block form.

I Figure 5B is a fragmentary perspective; showing a section of the partially compressed napkin to indicate the accordion plait movement of the 60 napkin body during the compression.

Figure 6 is a view in elevation of one embodiment of the apparatus in which the movement of the compression piston and the preceding movement of the hook-pull is effected by cams 66 and levers.

Figure '7 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged view of one of the power wheels and the cam carried thereby, the latter operating means for moving a compression resistance member into and out of closing relation to each napkin-receiving cylinder.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detailed-view showing the construction of the hook end of the hookpull.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 6, but partly in section, showing amodified embodiment of .the machine employing hydraulic means for operating each compression piston and each hook-pull.

Figure 11 is a sectional elevation of the combined pump and control valve structure for the hydraulic cylinders, showing the valve in neutral position with respect to the compression end of the hydraulic cylinders which receives the com- 20 pression piston and the similar end of the hydraulic cylinders which actuates the hook-pull.

Figure 11A is a vertical section through the valve casing on a line at the rear of that shown by Figure 11 illustrating the ports controlling idle or positioning movements of the compression piston and hook-pull. In this figure, the valve ports are in position to cause fiow of fluid under pressure for return of the compression piston following a power stroke thereof.' a

Figure 113 is a view similar to Figure 11A, showing the rotary valve member in neutral position.

Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, it will be seen that the preferred form of the napkin comprises a gauze generally rectangular in body I, which may be of any desired length, width and thickness, and which more often is of the size hereinbefore specified or thereabouts. Within thegauze is an absorbentmaterial, preferably absorbent cotton, in. layers so combed that the fibres extend longitudinally of the body. In practice, a knitted gauze tube is employed and when the central section thereof is filled with cotton batting in such manner that the structure has a well defined,'generally fiat, opposed sides formation, with a thickness which may be approximately 1,th e ends of the gauze are folded backward and stitched at points 2, forming loops 4. I a 60 The principle of operation of the machine may bequickly visualized by reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings. A plurality of cylinders 5, of which one is shown, are held between supporting frame members 6, these members being apertured. Carried by the frame member at the receiving end of cylinder I is preferablyplaced an inclined shelf Land projected within tube is the hook-pull which comprises a rod I having at one end a fixed hook 3:: above which is pivoted a movable hook 312: normally held in open position as by the spring I shown in Figure 9. One loop I of the napkin is hung upon the fixed hook member 3:. On the end of rod I opposite the hook is a rod-carrier l0.

The parts being in the position of Figure 1, rod-carrier In is moved to the right. In such movement, contact of the movable hook 8m: with the bevelled face of the flared entrance end of the adjacent frame member 8 will cause the hook to be closed in opposition to its spring and the continued movement of rod 3 will carry the napkin wholly within the tube as shown in Figure 2, and, finally, as the hooked end of rod 8 leaves the rear end of the tube. spring I will open hook ilma: and the loop of the napkin will be released. Should a very short portion of the loop protrude at the time it is released, it will automatically move.back into the tube for the reason that it will be under strong tension and the release of the tension will cause its retraction. At this point, a compression resistance plate II will be moved downward to the posi tion of Figure 2 to close each tube. Thereupon, the compression piston l2 on carrier I3, there being as many pistons as tubes, will move forwardly in a power stroke and will continue its movement until a predetermined resistance to such movement is met with at the time when the napkin is finally in compressed form.

The napkin being very. substantially greater in width than the diameter of the tube, it will be realized that when it is pulled into the tube there will be formed in the napkin structure one or more longitudinal folds generally indicated by the line I, Figure 5B. These longitudinal folds are not to be considered as compression folds,

however, inasmuch as they do not change the tube substantially the same or even somewhat longer (due to the pull thereon) as that of the original structure.

At the end of the compression stroke compression resistance plate II is raised and the compressed napkin is quickly ejected by the movement of compression piston to final position in its active stroke, as shown in Figure 4. The compressed napkin ll then falls upon a suitable reception member such as a moving belt or basket.

In the form shown in Figures 6 to 8 inclusive, the machine comprises a primary frame built up of the riser l5, cross support II and longitudinal frame member Il, I'Ix. Carried at the top comers of the structure are the heavy apertured bosses l8 which receive the reduced end of two guide rods l9 extending longitudinally of the structure, additional guide bosses being provided at 20. These guide bosses hold the guide rods in fixed position. At the left-hand end of the structure the guide rods-receive the apertured bearing bosses 2| of a cross head II which, in turn, carries a suitable number of compression pistons i2. These pistons are connected to the cross head in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2. The frame work supports at its top the vertically extending frame members 6 which may be reinforced by an overhead plate 61:. The compression cylinders I are associated with the frame members I in the manner shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive.

Suitably mounted on the frame structure near its base is a motor 22 on the drive shaft of which is a bevelled gear 23 which drives a horizontal bevelled gear 24. On transverse shaft 25 is a worm wheel, only diagrammatically shown in 5 Figure 6 at 26.

a power disk or wheel 21 which carries at one face thereof the cam 23. it will be seen that worm wheel 26 is in mesh with the worm 29 on a shaft 30 and free on the shaft is the slide bracket 31 adapted to be moved by hand lever 32 whereby a bevelled gear 33 keyed on shaft 30 may be moved into and out of engagement with bevelled gear 24.

The shaft also has fixed thereto Referring to Figure 6 The parts being in the position of Figures 6 and 'I, it may be assumed that four napkins have each been drawn into an appropriate compression cylinder lying therein as shown in Figure 2 and that the bevelled gears 24 and 33 are in contact, the cam 23 lying in the position of Figure 8. The

. wheel 21 rotates in the direction of the arrow and before the compression pistons i2 enter the compression cylinders cam 23 will throw upwardly a lever 34, the lower end of the lever carrying a roller 35 engaging the periphery of the cam, and the lever being guided by a swing arm 36, the upper end of lever 34 being pivoted to a rock arm 31 which, in turn, is pivoted to compression resistance plate H, the latter being channeled at its edges to receive key plates 3I carried by the right-hand frame members I. After compressionresistance plate II moves downwardly to the position of Figures 2 and 3, the compression pistons will enter the compression cylinders and will continue their compression strokes to the posi- 35 tion of Figure 3. At that point the roller 35 will be met with a sharp descending point p of the cam (Figure 8) and lever 34 will very quickly drop, raising the compression resistance plate, whereupon the pistons will eject the compressed napkin and they may fall, for example, into a receptacle 33, Figure 6, whereupon the operator throws handle 32 to neutral position, followed by such movement as to carry bevelled gear 33, which is keyed on shaft 301- into engagement 4: with bevelled gear 24. Shaft 30:: carries a worm 40 in mesh with a worm wheel only schematically indicated in Figure 6 at 4| on a shaft 42 which carries apower wheel 43.

The connection between the first-named power wheel 21 and the cross head i3 comprises a lever 44 on which is a sleeve 45 to which is pivoted an arm 46 pivoted, in turn, at 41 to power wheel The function of power wheel 43 is to drive the hook-pulls. To this end there is pivoted to power wheel 43 an arm 43 which, in turn, is pivoted to sleeve 49 on a lever arm 50, the latter at its top being pivoted to a cross head l0 having bearing bosses II sliding on the guide members It. hook-pulls are secured to the cross head in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The

When the lever 32 is moved to the right, the

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 10 to handle or valve-lever 1|.

preceding figures, or by a bar apertured to re-' ceive the hook-pulls as shown at 55, Figure 10. The cross head I! carrying the compression pistons i2 is connected to one or more pistons,

one being generally sumcient, and preferably disposed at the longitudinal center of the cross head. It will be understood that the cross head If and carrying bar will have at their respective ends apertured bosses to slide upon guide rods, all in the manner of the structure shown in Figures 6 and 7. In Figure 10 the piston is shown at 56 disposed in a hydraulic cylinder 51 from the end of which is a suitable packing gland closed by a usual type of apertured gland ring 58. The piston has a head 59 and the cylinder' to the left of the head is formed with an inlet port communicating with a pipe 60 leading to the valve casing 6|. For return of the piston after a power stroke, the cylinder towardits right-hand end is formed with a port communicating with a pipe 62 leading to the upper portion of the valve casing. In the present embodiment, the compression resistance plate It is actuated through the movement of a lever 63 pivoted on a bracket 84 and also pivoted to link 54. The left-hand end of the lever carries a roller 65 adapted to be engaged by a cam 8| attached to a pinion 61 on a shaft 68. In mesh,

with the pinion is a rack 69 carried by cross head it. A spring 10 engages lever 63 and holds roller 85 in engagement with the periphery of cam 66. In the position of the parts shown in Figure-10, a power compression stroke of piston 58 will, through rack 69, pinion 61 and cam 68, effect a preliminary descent of the compression resistance plate II and the retention of the plate in such position until the end of the normal compression action upon the napkins, whereupon the cam will leave roller 65 and spring 10 will retract plate ii.

To effect the compression stroke, operation of a rotary valve, which is hollow, is effected through The rotary valve is shown at 12. Within the valve casing ii is a pump chamber 13 containing any suitable pump. For simplicity of illustration, the form of pump illustrated comprising intermeshing gears of which one is shown at 14, Figure 11, the drive being effected through a shaft 15 leading to a motor 16.

. The casing is formed with a feed aperture at 11 communicating with a pipe 18 communicating with a tank 19; This tank may be under slight pressure to cause the flow of oil or other liquid to the pump chamber,-or the pump chamber may be primed and the suctional effect of the gears utilized to cause the inflow of oil, or, as an alternative, the oil may flow to the pump chamber by gravity. When the lever is turned to the left from its neutral position to position A valve port A will be brought into communication with casing port E and valve port B will be brought into communication with pipe 60. The fluid under qppressure, therefore, will cause a power stroke of the piston It. At the same time "valve port C will be, moved into communication with casing port 62: (Figure 113) leading to pipe 02 and the oil in front of piston II will communicate with relief port F of the casing causing the oil to be returned through pipe 80 to tank ll. 7 When lever Ii is moved to position B valve port B will be closed and likewise port A will be closed; At the back end of the valve, however, pressure inlet E .of the casing will be brought into communication with valve port F as shown in Figure 11A, I

so that the oil under pressure will flow through valve port C, duct 82:, pipe 62 and into the cylinder I1 to return the piston. The return oil will flow through pipe I, valve port B, relief duct G'andpipe".

when lever II is moved to position C valve port 3' will communicate with pipe 8i and valve port H will communicate with casing port E leading to the pump chamber, oil will flow through pipe 8| to cylinder 02 in which is headed piston carrying cross head 55. A power stroke will thus be given to the hook-pulls. At the same time,

the oil for return in cylinder 82 will pass through pipe '6, valve port C, valve port F' and relief duct F, to pipe 80.

When lever Ii is moved to position D the} relief ports will be closed and valve port J will communicate with casing port E leading to the pump chamber and valve port J therefore will deliver oil under pressure to port C, thence to duct '82: to pipe 86. At the same time, the return oil will flow through pipe 8|, valve duct B and valve port A to the return duct F and to return pipe 80.

.By means of the invention a sanitary napkin is enormously compressed so that it appears in wrapped form somewhat like the commonly sold 5 candy unit embodying 10 or more candy lozenges applied face to face and enclosed in a tubular wrapper. At the same time, the, manner in which the napkin is handled enables it to be restored to original form in a few seconds of time merely byvdislodglng the compressed loops at the ends of the block, pulling upon and to elongate the accordion-plaited structure, and then rapidly flexing the main absorbent body, while it is under tension by pull upon the loops or the points of the body at which the loops are stitched. By the manner in which the absorbent body is compressed, the body canbe restored to original form without derangement o'f'the fibres because the accordion-plait compression moves the flbres in the direction of their length, and the restoring tension is also longitudinally of the fibres and thus in the direction of their greatest strength.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for manufacturing compressed sanitary pads, a compression cylinder, pad engaging means adapted to enter the cylinder at one end for projection at the opposite end thereof, means for reciprocating said pad engaging means, a piston and means for reciprocating the same within the cylinder, said means acting to withdraw the piston from the cylinder, and means effective to close the cylinder at the end thereof 4 a,100,0es

'thereofoppositefromtheendenteredbythe piston, means for proiecting and retracting the hook-pull, means for proiecting and retracting the piston, and means for moving the retractable closure into and out of operativeposition.

3. In apparatus for manufacturing compressed sanitary pads, a cylinder, power-operated means for pulling a sanitary pad endwise into the cylinder. a piston, and means for reciprocating the piston in the cylinder, and means effective to close the end of the cylinder at the end thereof opposite from the end entered by the piston, during part of said reciprocation.

4. In apparatus formanufacturing compressed sanitary pads, a cylinder, power-operated means for pulling a sanitary pad endwise into the cylinder, said means comprising a normally open hook member adapted to be closed by contact with a surface adjacent the inlet end of the cylinder and to automatically open upon retraction from the cylinder, a piston, cylinder closing means at that end of the cylinder opposite from an end adapted for entry of the piston, and means for reciprocating the piston within the cylinder.

5. Apparatus for manufacturing compressed sanitary napkins constructed in accordance with claim 4 in which the hook member comprises a rod carryins a fixed hook and a pivoted hook adjacent thereto, and a spring for normally holding the pivoted hook in open position.

8. In apparatus for manufacturing compressed sanitary napkins, spaced vertical frame plates, a phirality of parallel cylinders supported by said plates, a cross-head and a plurality of pistons carried thereby and in register with'one end of the cylinder assembly. a cross head and a pluralityofpullhooksinregisterwiththeowoliteend of the'cylinder ass-ably, means for independsntly reciprocatim the cross heads, and retractable means for closing one end of the cylinder assessblyoppositefromthatendofthepistonamamg bly in register with the pistons.

'1. Apparatus for manufacturing compremed sanitary napkinsconstructed in accordance with claim 4, in combination with hook closing means comprising a retractable cylinder closure member 1. having a cam face for engagement by the book member. A

8. In apparatus for manufacturing compressed sanitarypads.aframe,paralleiguiderodscarried at the upper end of the frame, opposed 1 cross headsmovable on said rods, an assembly of spacedpistonsononecroeshead,anaasemblyof spaced pull rods-on the other cross head, an assembly of spaced cylinders intermediate the pistons and pull rods the cylinders at one end being adapted to receive the pistons, retractable means for closing the opposite end of each cylinder, hooks carried by the pull rods and power means for reciprocating each cross head.

9. Apparatus for manufacturing compressed sanitary pads constructed in accordance with claim 8 in which the cylinder closing means comprises a slide plate, in combination with means, timed with the power means for reciprocating the cross heads, and adapted to move the slide plate a into active position upon a compression movement of the pistons and to retract the slide plate at the end of the compression movement of the pistons.

LAURIE I". PAR-m. a 

